The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have confirmed the identity of a woman shown in a distressing video released by Hamas as their soldier, Noa Marciano. The footage, which has since circulated widely online, includes a segment where Marciano is seen alive, followed by disturbing images of her deceased, exhibiting a head wound and a visibly broken ankle.
The military wing of Hamas, known as the Al Qassam Brigade, has claimed responsibility for the death of Marciano, alleging she was a casualty of an Israeli air raid over Gaza on the 9th of November. The IDF has refuted this claim, accusing Hamas of psychological terrorism through the exploitation of hostages in their propaganda.
Watch Viral video here
The video emerged amidst ongoing hostilities that have seen a substantial loss of life on both sides. It is reported by the Associated Press that around 1,400 Israelis, including numerous civilians, perished in a coordinated assault by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants across Israel on the 7th of October. In retaliation, Israel has been engaged in a significant military operation involving air strikes and a ground invasion with the objective of dismantling Hamas capabilities. The Gaza Health Ministry, controlled by Hamas, reports that Palestinian casualties have surpassed 11,000 due to the conflict.
Marciano, who served in the IDF’s Combat Intelligence Collection Corps as part of the 414th Regiment, was stationed at a lookout near Kibbutz Nahal Oz on the day of the attack. This location, in close proximity to the Gaza border, suffered extensive militant activity, resulting in numerous fatalities and abductions. Marciano was one of the estimated 240 individuals taken hostage during these events.
In the contentious video, Marciano is seen identifying herself and stating her IDF serial number. She mentions that it had been four days since her capture, which places the recording around the 11th of October. Additionally, she indicates that she is being held alongside other captives and references nearby air strikes. It is not clear whether her statements were voluntary or coerced, as she appears to be reading from a prepared text at certain points.
Marciano’s personal background is briefly noted in the video; she is a resident of Modi’in, a city situated between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, and is of Moroccan heritage.
The release of the video has prompted the IDF to dispatch officers to communicate with Marciano’s family. In a public statement, the IDF expressed deep sympathy for the Marciano family and reiterated their commitment to repatriating those abducted using all available intelligence and operational resources.
The IDF’s response to the video has been to highlight the inhumane tactics employed by Hamas, which has a history of using hostages as tools for psychological warfare. They have yet to address the specific allegations by Hamas regarding the circumstances of Marciano’s death.
Prior to this tragic confirmation, Marciano’s family had been clinging to hope for her safe return. Her mother, Adi Marciano, recounted her last conversation with her daughter on the morning of the 7th of October, during which Noa had mentioned an infiltration and abruptly ended the call. Subsequent attempts to contact her daughter went unanswered.
In the immediate aftermath of the October attacks, Hamas had disseminated an image showing Marciano bound with three other hostages. This recent video release has shattered the hopes nurtured by her family, as articulated by her grandmother, Bella, who had been providing solace to the family and holding onto the expectation of Noa’s imminent return.
